A health professional or researcher will explain what your study involves, answer your questions and give you written information to help you decide whether or not to take part.
Well, as I say, if you’re asked to or if you’re approached to be going on one of these trials, obviously think about it, you know, think what it involves. But I would… be, I’d tend to encourage them to do it, you know, go in for it. You can always pull out. You don’t, you’re not stuck there for a year or two years or whatever. You can always, if things are not going right, you can always pull out. But I would encourage anybody to go ahead with it, unless they’ve got any real fears about it. You know, I think you’re in good hands and, erm… as I say, you’re being monitored, you’re being checked all the time. I’d encourage anybody to, to do it, try it… And if, if there are any problems, let them know straight away, you know.
Phil explains his thinking behind deciding to take part in a medical study.
They give me all their er pamphlets on it, but explained it to me and then just give me the pamphlets afterwards, but it was all explained to me in the hospital: what they were doing, and what they were trying to do, and how many people were on it, on the study. And the time period, you know, what they were… aiming for, you know. Yeah, and any question that I asked. And time wasn’t, it wasn’t like a quick, “You’ve got ten minutes to get out.” I could have stayed there all day talking to them… erm if I’d have needed to. Time wasn’t an issue. You know, so I was made to feel, you know, that I could discuss anything with them. And like I say, my wife was with me that day and my daughter-in-law, and they asked questions as well, and that was fine with the doctor I was talking to at the hospital, you know.
Angus was made to feel that he could discuss anything with the doctor in the hospital before he gave his informed consent to take part in the medical study.